A checklist for buying a used boat in Panama, from first viewing to signing. Start it as soon as you are serious about a boat. Ask the seller up front for the AMP registration, the import paperwork and the purchase invoices, because those papers decide the real price.
Fill in the fields below, then print the worksheet or download your entries as a text file. Entries stay on this page until you leave unless you download them. Don’t enter passport, card or medical details; keep copies of those separately.
How to fill it in
Fill in the paper lines (2 to 9) before you spend money on a surveyor. If the seller cannot produce the registration and the import papers, stop there, or price the boat as a project with an unknown tax bill.
Which office each part relates to
- AMP. The Autoridad Marítima de Panamá registers vessels, from its head office at Diablo Heights. Under Ley 57 de 2008 the patente de navegación for a yacht runs two years, so an expired one is common. Still, it shows how the boat was looked after.
- Registro Público. Title and mortgages on registered vessels are recorded here. A transfer needs a certificate of no liens or the mortgagee's consent. A local maritime lawyer can run the search. See the lien check guide.
- Aduanas. The import declaration and duty receipts prove the boat was nationalised. A foreign-flagged boat in transit is not. Keeping it in Panama means a definitive import with duty and 7% ITBMS. Only a licensed customs broker (corredor de aduanas) can assess the duty, so get a written figure. See in transit vs imported.
- AMP Gente de Mar. Whoever drives the boat needs an AMP operator licence.
Tips
- Fees. The AMP's Junta Directiva sets registration and transfer fees, and they change. Confirm the current schedule with the AMP on +507 501-5000 rather than using a figure from a listing.
- Surveyors. Most Panama City surveyors work on ships. Ask how many recreational hull surveys they did last year, and ask your insurer which accreditation it accepts before you hire.
- Haul-out. Flamenco Marina hauls only on high water, so the tide table sets your survey day.
- Sea trial. Run it in the afternoon breeze, not on a calm morning. Use the sea-trial checklist.
- Tax. A private used sale with duties already paid does not normally trigger ITBMS again; a dealer sale does. Confirm your case with a customs broker or accountant.
Read the companion guide
Before using this resource, read How to buy a boat in Panama: the whole process.
Use it alongside these guides
How to buy a boat in Panama: the whole process
Buying a boat in Panama: confirm its flag and customs status, survey it, check AMP liens, sign before a notary, pay, then file the AMP transfer.
Boat-buying budget in Panama: price, tax, slip, upkeep
A Panama boat budget is the price plus survey, lawyer and AMP fees, duty and 7% ITBMS if imported, insurance, a slip and tropical upkeep. Here's each line.
Boat surveys in Panama: surveyors, yards and costs
A Panama pre-purchase survey needs an independent small-craft surveyor and a haul-out. Yards on both coasts, and how to price the job.
Boat sale closing and AMP transfer checklist
Printable closing checklist for a Panama boat sale: no-liens certificate, notarised compraventa, payment, AMP traspaso, tax status, insurance and handover.
Boat import duty and ITBMS estimator (Panama)
Estimate the cost of importing a boat into Panama: CIF value, import duty at your broker's rate, 7% ITBMS on CIF plus duty, and the broker's fee.